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Dewberry delivers ARBC draft master plan; commission requests written comments by Jan. 20
Summary
Dewberry provided a draft Amite River Basin master plan Dec. 31. The commission asked members for written comments by Jan. 20 to allow Dewberry time for quality control and to produce a final draft for legislative submission in early April.
Dewberry delivered its draft master plan for the Amite River Basin to the commission on Dec. 31, the contractor told the ARBC on Jan. 14. Commissioners were asked to submit comments by Jan. 20 so the consultant can complete quality control, finalize project simulations and prepare a revised draft aimed at an early April delivery for legislative submission.
Sam Campton, Dewberry project lead, said the draft contains substantial data and recommended reviewers focus on Chapter 4 (actions and recommendations) and Chapter 2 (current conditions) if time is limited. “We are working at the moment on getting a consistent writing styles, formatting, and a lot of QC,” Campton said. He said some figure labels and maps need correction and that a small number of project descriptions still require missing inputs.
The plan will include project‑level simulations quantifying benefits (structures protected and economic values) once Dewberry receives outstanding information, Campton said. The consultant proposed a schedule: incorporate commission comments, issue an updated draft in March, request a short comment window and aim to finalize in early April so the ARBC can submit the plan to the legislature before the deadline.
Why it matters: Commissioners told Dewberry the master plan will be the commission’s primary road map for identifying, prioritizing and funding projects across the Amite River Basin. Paul Sawyer said the commission’s credibility and its ability to secure funding depend on delivering a clear, implementable master plan.
The contractor and staff also recommended a public rollout after legislative submission — a second set of open houses and briefings to help parishes and emergency managers use the plan’s modeling outputs for response and planning.
Ending: Dewberry requested written comments by Jan. 20. Staff and commissioners said they will consolidate feedback, prioritize fixes and work toward an early‑April final draft for submission to the legislature and public rollout.
